BRITISH Transport Police are appealing for information about a man who forced an emergency stop and became abusive to train staff.

Officers are appealing for the public’s help to identify the man involved in the incident on board a train at Stonehouse railway station.

It took place on Thursday, December 19.

PC Frank Hedley, of BTP Gloucester, said: “A male passenger on board the 0944hrs Swindon-Cheltenham Spa service was in the second carriage of the three-carriage train and wished to alight at Stonehouse station.

“However, due to the short platform length at Stonehouse, the doors on the second and third carriages do not open and an on-train announcement was made informing passengers to walk through the train to the front carriage if they wished to alight at Stonehouse station."

He added: “The passenger failed to do this and when the train departed Stonehouse with the man still on board, he pulled the emergency cord causing the train to come to a halt.

“When spoken to by the train guard, the man became abusive and threatened to damage glass on the train.

"The incident led to the train being delayed, causing inconvenience to other passengers and the rail industry.

“The man left the train at Gloucester and ran from the station before police arrived.”

Enquiries have been ongoing to trace the man responsible. Officers are now seeking the public’s help to identify the man in these photographs as it is believed he will have key information which can assist police.